Compare towns
Wilder vs Essex Junction vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Essex Junction has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wilder | Essex Junction | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
10,803Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 minHighest 18% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Essex High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.